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It’s time to crack down.
Complaints of illegal egg and poultry price gouging in New York State are up more than 840% in 2025 amid the recent bird flu outbreak, compared to just 16 similar reports made last year, The Post has learned.
The New York Attorney General’s Office was hit with 151 complaints about rip off egg prices between Jan. 1 and March 10, a rep from the office told The Post — with some of the problematic egg price tags advertising eggs at between $11.99 and $15.99 per dozen.
“It’s always gone on,” lamented Manhattan shopper Sandy Rubin, 62, of the alleged price gouging. “If they can find a reason to raise the prices, they’re gonna do it.”
“I miss eggs,” chimed Turtle Bay resident Bob Kandel, 81. “The little coffee shops have not raised the prices of the egg sandwiches yet, but I’m sure that will change … it’s crazy.”
“I haven’t had eggs in weeks,” added 35-year-old Manhattan resident Sarah Robertson. “I have a toddler, and I’d love to make eggs for her, but out of principle and everything happening politically, I’m not doing that.”
It’s up to the AG’s office to determine whether reported price gouging instances are actually against the law or a just sticker shock — and businesses found to be price gouging face a penalty of up to $25,000 per violation.
The office has yet to issue a single violation for any of the businesses reported for egg or poultry price gouging in 2024 and 2025, a rep said.
The price of eggs has hit a record average of over $5.89 per dozen this month – up from $1.48 in 2020 — and the USDA predicts egg prices will increase at least 41% this year on top of the already egg-zagerated prices, The Post previously reported.
“Eggs are an essential grocery staple in households across the state, and New Yorkers should not pay ludicrous amounts just to feed their families,” Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement back in January, warning residents of possible price gouging amid the outbreak.
The situation has prompted restaurants like Denny’s and Waffle House to add surcharges on egg dishes and has even caused the price of the classic bacon egg and cheese sandwich to soar.
Elsewhere, bodegas in the Big Apple are selling off “loosie” eggs to those who can’t afford a full carton – which have been spotted at prices as high as $19.29 per dozen.
Under state statute, New York vendors, retailers and suppliers are barred from raising the prices of essential goods and services at an “excessively higher price during market disruptions resulting from emergencies,” the attorney general’s office said.
Goods and services protected under the law include food, water, medicine, gasoline, generators, batteries, flashlights, hotel lodging and transportation.
In 2021, James secured a settlement with Hillandale Farms, one of the nation’s largest egg wholesalers, for price gouging eggs during the coronavirus pandemic. More than 1.2 million eggs were delivered to New York food pantries as a result.
The recent complaints come as 166 million birds across the nation have been slaughtered to limit the spread of the virus after cases are found – and most of those killed being egg-laying chickens.
“The bird flu is affecting poultry farms and causing a national shortage, but this should not be an excuse for businesses to dramatically raise prices,” James added in the January statement.
“My office is monitoring the situation,” the AG said, “and I am urging New Yorkers to report excessive prices to my office.”
